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Research on Social Work Practice
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Article

A Study of Engagement in Neighborhood-Based Child Welfare Services

Julie Cooper Altman, Ph.D.*

School of Social Work, Adelphi University

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: altman{at}adelphi@edu.


  Abstract
This article reports the results of a mixed-method study that examined processes and outcomes of parent-worker engagement in child welfare. Knowledge gained from a qualitative exploration of engagement at one neighborhood-based child welfare agency informed the gathering of quantitative data from 74 different parent-worker dyads in this sequential exploratory design. Seven themes instrumental to engagement emerged: (a) clear, collaborative goal setting; (b) hopefulness; (c) parent acknowledgment of their situations; (d) motivation; (e) respect for cultural differences; (f) honest and straightforward communication; and (g) persistent and timely efforts by all. Quantitative analyses yielded little relationship between engagement and either visitation rate or case disposition by 9 months post placement. Although these data provide support for the clinical benefits of working to improve parent-worker engagement in child welfare services, they fail to provide evidence of a relationship between engagement and improved case outcomes.

First published on November 30, 2007, doi:10.1177/1049731507309825

Research on Social Work Practice 2008;18:555.

A more recent version of this article appeared on November 1, 2008

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